SARTRE Automated Platooning Vehicles

The SARTRE project develops and integrates solutions to allow trucks and cars to drive in platoons to reduce fuel consumption, increase safety, improve road congestion and increase driver convenience. The lead vehicle in the platoon is driven normally and the following vehicles are automated, allowing the drivers to perform other tasks. The platoon vehicles operate on conventional motorways in a mixed environment with other non-platoon traffic, without requiring changes to the road infrastructure. A demonstration system with two trucks and three cars was operated on test tracks and on the public motorway at speeds of up to 90 km/h and gap sizes from 4-25m. They were used to measure the fuel consumption gains at a range of inter-vehicle gaps, demonstrating the potential for significant fuel savings for both trucks and cars. The business case for the introduction of automated platooning systems in trucks and cars was investigated, and estimates for the costs as well as the benefits were evaluated.